Second Curve Capital’s Favorite Q3 Financial Sector Stocks

Wall St. Watchdog reveals information regarding Second Curve Capital’s top holdings in the Financial sector for the quarter ending September 30th, 2011. The firm held 16 stocks in the Financial sector at the end of the quarter with an aggregate market value of $145.852 million.

Primus Guaranty Ltd. (NYSE:PRS): On 06/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 6,601,317 shares with a market value of $34,656,914. This comprised 14.77% of the total portfolio. On 09/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 5,273,372 shares with a market value of $27,790,670. This comprised 19.05% of the total portfolio. The net change in shares for this position over the two quarters is -1,327,945. About Company: Primus Guaranty, Ltd., through it subsidiaries, provides credit risk protection for individual corporations, sovereigns, and financial institutions.

Newstar Financial Inc. (NASDAQ:NEWS): On 06/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 2,313,775 shares with a market value of $24,711,118. This comprised 10.53% of the total portfolio. On 09/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 2,101,678 shares with a market value of $19,629,673. This comprised 13.46% of the total portfolio. The net change in shares for this position over the two quarters is -212,097. About Company: NewStar Financial, Inc. is a specialized finance company. The Company offers flexible debt capital solutions to mid-sized corporations, real estate borrowers, securities issuers, and asset aggregators. NewStar helps finance acquisitions, consolidations, corporate growth, debtor-in-possession, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, and refinancings.

Banner Corporation (NASDAQ:BANR): On 06/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 1,607,240 shares with a market value of $28,126,700. This comprised 11.99% of the total portfolio. On 09/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 1,534,140 shares with a market value of $19,621,651. This comprised 13.45% of the total portfolio. The net change in shares for this position over the two quarters is -73,100. About Company: Banner Corporation a bank holding company involved in the business of planning, directing and coordinating the business activities of its subsidiary banks. The Banks offers a wide variety of commercial banking services and financial products to individuals, businesses and public sector entities.

Citizens Republic Bancorp Inc (NASDAQ:CRBC): On 06/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 27,736,157 shares with a market value of $19,137,948. This comprised 8.16% of the total portfolio. On 09/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 2,713,834 shares with a market value of $18,779,731. This comprised 12.88% of the total portfolio. The net change in shares for this position over the two quarters is -25,022,323. About Company: Citizens Republic Bancorp, Inc., through subsidiaries, attracts deposits and offers commercial banking services. The banks offer residential and commercial mortgage, equipment, small business administration and construction loans, and lease financing. Citizens Republic serves customers in several Midwestern states.

Taylor Capital Group Inc. (NASDAQ:TAYC): On 06/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 2,024,183 shares with a market value of $16,517,333. This comprised 7.04% of the total portfolio. On 09/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 2,024,183 shares with a market value of $12,995,255. This comprised 8.91% of the total portfolio. The net change in shares for this position over the two quarters is 0. About Company: Taylor Capital Group, Inc. is a bank holding company for Cole Taylor Bank. The Bank provides middle-market business banking, small business banking, commercial real estate lending and wealth management. Taylor Capital operates in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Cobiz Financial Inc (NASDAQ:COBZ): On 06/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 3,345,151 shares with a market value of $21,877,287. This comprised 9.32% of the total portfolio. On 09/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 2,866,151 shares with a market value of $12,811,694. This comprised 8.78% of the total portfolio. The net change in shares for this position over the two quarters is -479,000. About Company: CoBiz Financial, Inc. provides commercial banking services to businesses and professionals through Colorado Business Bank and Arizona Business Bank. The Company also provides investment banking services, property and casualty insurance brokerage, trust and fiduciary services, as well as employee benefits consulting and brokerage through its subsidiaries.

The Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:TBBK): On 06/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 1,083,214 shares with a market value of $11,319,586. This comprised 4.82% of the total portfolio. On 09/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 1,044,532 shares with a market value of $7,478,849. This comprised 5.13% of the total portfolio. The net change in shares for this position over the two quarters is -38,682. About Company: The Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for The Bancorp Bank. The Bank offers services including interest bearing checking accounts, a full line of loan products, and online bill payment. The Bancorp Bank operates in Wilmington, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Mercantile Bank Corp. (NASDAQ:MBWM): On 06/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 857,995 shares with a market value of $7,121,359. This comprised 3.03% of the total portfolio. On 09/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 843,666 shares with a market value of $6,572,158. This comprised 4.51% of the total portfolio. The net change in shares for this position over the two quarters is -14,329. About Company: Mercantile Bank Corporation is the holding company for Mercantile Bank of West Michigan. The Bank provides a variety of commercial banking services to individuals, businesses, governmental units, and other institutions through offices in Kent and Ottawa counties, Michigan.

Compucredit Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:CCRT): On 06/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 1,615,631 shares with a market value of $3,748,264. This comprised 1.6% of the total portfolio. On 09/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 1,655,631 shares with a market value of $4,619,210. This comprised 3.17% of the total portfolio. The net change in shares for this position over the two quarters is 40,000. About Company: CompuCredit Holdings Corporation originates and purchases credit products. The Company also markets fee-based products and services, including life insurance, card registration, telecommunication products and services, memberships in preferred buying clubs, travel services, and debt waiver programs. CompuCredit’s credit card is offered to its clients on an unsecured basis.

Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:SNV): On 06/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 6,605,181 shares with a market value of $13,738,776. This comprised 5.85% of the total portfolio. On 09/30/2011, Second Curve Capital reported holding 3,318,548 shares with a market value of $3,550,847. This comprised 2.43% of the total portfolio. The net change in shares for this position over the two quarters is -3,286,633. About Company: Synovus Financial Corp. is a financial services holding company that provides various financial services. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides commercial and retail banking, as well as investment services, to customers in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee.

(Note: Data regarding Second Curve Capital’s stock holdings are sourced from whalewisdom.com. All data are assumed to be accurate.)